So How Does Your Group Distribute Treasure?

[Herremann the Wise]

Hi Everyone,

Our group has had some issues recently with treasure. I don't believe it's the DM's fault or that one of the players is playing an excessively greedy character. I think it's just one of those things that must be inherent with our group.

As such, I would really appreciate some suggestions in how your group distributes treasure. Is there a fair system that can keep some of the "usual treasure behaviour" in line?
For example, imagine your group has just found a Ring of Protection +4. Who gets it and how do you work this out? I'd appreciate any ideas at the moment.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[lrsach01]

Our group uses what we call Treasure Credits. It goes like this:
1. the total gold we could get from selling all magic items is divided among the players. (generally, half the cost of making the item)
2. These "credits" can only be used to divide the spoils of war.
3. The party memebers then bid on each item starting at half the items value.

The system isn't fool proof. We had some issues last weekend when it came to multiple items. Any way, I can post the full "rules" later tonight when I'm back home if anyone is interested.

 

[wedgeski]

Need before greed. If that falls over, then a simple comparison of each PC's wealth comes into play. We're all friends around the table so an amicable solution is never more than a few seconds' discussion away.

 

[KenSeg]

Need before greed is our rule. Gold is put into a common fund. Every so often we split about 80% of the fund evenly between members. The remainder stays in the fund to pay for room and board, etc.

Magic items, weapons, armor and such is given first to those who can use the item only, then if two or more people are eligable for that, we look to see who can benefit from the item the most. Say that we just recieved a +2 great sword. Two fighter-types are eligable for it. One person has a 16 strength and one has an 18 strength. We give the sword to the 16 strength fighter as it brings his average damage up to on par with the other fighter.

If we get to items where this doesn't apply, everyone who is interested in an item rolls a d20, high roll wins. Next time something comes up, the previously winner excludes themselves from the roll off. This system has worked for almost 20 years in our group with almost zero problems.

-KenSeg
-Gaming since 1978

 

[Aaron L]

Well, it totally depends on what characters everyone is playing. We dont have any kind of established rules that we artificially apply to every different game.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

From what I've seen of the group I'm in now, it's basically Need before Greed, but not always, since Magic Items don't tend to be permanent character items. That is, they switch hands depending on the Need of the Moment (tm), sooo as far as Ring of Protection +4 goes, it's go to the mage first, probably. But, he might give it up to the Monk since the Monk sees a lot more hand-to-hand combat than the mage does.

There's very little Magic Item Greed in this group... Heck, there are very few magic items to begin with!

 

[IronWolf]

Our distribution tends to be need before greed. We tend to keep party funds at this point with a good portion of that going to supplies and item creation that can help the party in the long run. Our friendly party mage keeps track of what we have in terms of coinage and gems. If someone needs something for their character it generally isn't a problem for them to get the money.

 

[Jack of Shadows]

Well,

My players add up everything as though they had sold it all. Magic and equipment are counted as 50% of purchase price. Then they split that amount evenly. Using that number they then "purchase" any items at the 50% price from the pool. If more than one person wants a particular item they bid against each other until a final price is arrived at. The difference between the 50% price and the final price is then distributed evenly amongst the players who did not win the bid.

It works really well as everyone gets their even share. They also lend each other money if one person needs a particular item but can't afford it from their share.

Jack

 

[Numion]

We total the values of magic items, gold and other valuables and divide equally. Magic items can be bought for half the value, or they are sold. In a case of expensive magic items you usually can loan the missing part from the party, or have to use your current share and previous gold on it.

Usually people will insist on selling very expensive magic items, though.

 

[Whimsical]

My favorite magic item distribution system has been a pick list based on total value. Basically, someone keeps a running total value of what each character has received in magic items. The value is based on how much we could sell the magic items for. Then when we acquire more magic item treasure we determine the order of picking starting with the person who has received the least amount of treasure, value-wise, then going on to the person who has received the most. Then the characters go through that list, the first one getting first pick of the treasure, then the second one getting second pick, etc. We go through that list over and over until everything desired has been selected. Everything else is sold and the gold is split up. The list is redetermined the next time there are magic items to distribute.

A player can reduce his total value by giving up items to the group treasure pile. If Joe Fighter picks a Ring of Protection +2, he can put his Ring of Protection +1 into the treasure pot to be selected by another or to be sold. A player can also just put cash into the pot just to increase his positioning in the list for the next time. A new member of a group would start his running total with a kicker value equal to the average of the group.

With other gaming groups, magic item distribution has been based by who would be able to benefit from the item the most. If there is a point of contention, then the party votes to determine who receives it. Which has been tough when people wants to sell magic items that they received for personal profit. But generally if my character gets a +4 STR item, she gives her +2 STR item to whomever she thinks should use it.

Sometimes the party leader is assigned the task of distributing magic items. I did this in one campaign and I was poor because of it. As a bard, it seemed like everyone else could use what came up better than he could. But recently he was able to assign a Staff of the Magi to himself with no issue because he had such a large magic item deficit.

So far, there has been no "best" system that everyone is happy with in my experience. Creating a magic item distribution system has always been a challenge, and it's a challenge that each new adventuring party should overcome by hashing their system out in character. A Lawful group could be happy with a communistic system, because they can trust each other to support each other. Other groups could define ownership more precisely.